Glossary

A Dictionary of Diplomatic Terminology Currently in Circulation

A

agrément – the host government's acceptance of the nomination of an ambassador to the country

ambassador-designate – a diplomatic agent who has been designated by the President as his/her choice as personal representative but who has not yet been confirmed by the Senate and who has not taken the oath of office (U.S. only)

ambassador – an official envoy or diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government as the official resident representative of his own government; or an official appointed for a special, often temporary, diplomatic assignment

ambassador at large – an ambassador whose portfolio addresses specific issues rather than one specific country

ambassador extraordinaire and plenipotentiary – a diplomatic agent who is the personal representative of the head of one state accredited to the head of another

attaché – a civilian or military technical expert or specialist on the mission

L

M

Mission – a generic term for embassy. Mission also describes the entirety of official US representation in a given foreign country, which functions under the supervision of the ambassador, including civilian and military personnel (except US military reporting to a unified command and official US representation to a multilateral organization).

P

Passport – the official document issued to a person by his/her government certifying citizenship and requesting foreign governments to grant the individual safe passage, lawful aid and protection while under that government's jurisdiction

p.c. – used in written social correspondence, "pour condoler" (to express sympathy)

p.f. – used in written social correspondence, "pour feliciter" (to extend congratulations)

p.m. – used in written social correspondence, "pour memoire" (to remind)

p.p. - used in written social correspondence, "pour presenter" (to introduce)

p.p.c. – used in written social correspondence, "pou prendre conge" (to say goodbye)

p.r. – used in written social correspondence, "pour remercier" (to express thanks)

persona non grata – an individual who is unacceptable to or unwelcome by the host government

precedence – priority; the right to superior honor on a ceremonial or formal occasion; for ambassadors in a country, precedence is determined by the order in which they presented their credentials to the host government